The Gauteng Department of Social Development has urged parents to ensure that daycare centres are registered with the department before enrolling their children.
This stern warning came after the recent tragic death of Owami Ndlovu at the Rose Day Care Centre in Bramley recently. The 19-month-old drowned after he fell into an unsecured swimming pool at the facility, resulting in the department being called to investigate the facility.
The Johannesburg Emergency Management Services confirmed the incident, with spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi explaining that the toddler was confirmed dead upon arrival.
Gauteng Social Development MEC, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, expressed regret at Ndlovu’s passing, saying that the tragedy could have been avoided. “Our heart goes out to the Ndlovu [family], we cannot begin to imagine what they are going through; we have made available counselling services to assist them in dealing with their tragedy,” she said.
The department also confirmed that the centre was shut down on 5 April after the owner and headmaster, known as Rose Abimana (35) from Burundi, confirmed that she ran the facility illegally but pleaded ignorance to regulations when asked for compliance documents and confronted on the poor state of her facility.
“It is sad that our society is charaterised by untold inequality… even though the provincial government is prioritising early learning, which is critical in providing the kind of stimulation needed to support school readiness,” added Mayathula-Khoza.
The department also urged childminders and early childhood development centres to approach the government to legalise their operations, as this would allow the department to regulate and fund them properly.
Meanwhile, Bramley Police Station spokesperson, Warrant Officer Moses Maphakela, confirmed that the police were aware of the incident and are investigating it. “An inquest into the death of the Ndlovu toddler has been opened and we are currently conducting an investigation,” he confirmed.
Details: www.socdev.gpg.gov.za
